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YOURLS VS OpeninApp

Compare YOURLS VS OpeninApp and see what are their differences

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YOURLS logo YOURLS

YOURLS is a website that contains all the tools you need to create and launch your very own URL shortener. URL shorteners like bitly or TinyURL are fine for public use, but they offer limited options in terms of URL customization.

OpeninApp logo OpeninApp

OpeninApp is world's most popular app opener that allows you to shorten link for free & open link directly in default browser where they are already signed in.
  • YOURLS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-18
  • OpeninApp
    Image date //
    2024-04-23
  • OpeninApp
    Image date //
    2024-04-23

YOURLS features and specs

  • Self-Hosted
    YOURLS allows you to host the URL shortening service on your own server, giving you full control over your data and avoiding reliance on third-party services.
  • Customization
    Since YOURLS is an open-source platform, you can customize it according to your needs, adding personalized branding and functionalities.
  • Analytics
    It offers detailed analytics for each shortened URL, including click counts, referrers, and geographical data, helping you understand your audience better.
  • Plugin Support
    YOURLS supports plugins, allowing you to extend its functionality with additional features like spam filtering, link previews, and more.
  • Free and Open-Source
    The platform is free to use and open-source, meaning there are no licensing costs and you benefit from a community of developers constantly improving the software.

Possible disadvantages of YOURLS

  • Technical Expertise Required
    Setting up and maintaining a YOURLS instance requires technical expertise, including knowledge of web servers and databases, which may not be suitable for non-technical users.
  • Hosting Costs
    Since YOURLS is self-hosted, you will incur costs for web hosting, domain registration, and potentially higher server resources if your service becomes popular.
  • Maintenance
    You are responsible for all maintenance tasks, such as updating software and ensuring security, which can be time-consuming.
  • Scalability Issues
    Depending on your hosting solution, you may face challenges in scaling the service to handle high volumes of traffic efficiently.
  • Limited Built-In Features
    While YOURLS is highly customizable through plugins, the out-of-the-box features are relatively basic when compared to some commercial URL shortening services.

OpeninApp features and specs

  • Seamless User Experience
    OpeninApp streamlines the process of opening links directly within apps, providing a more seamless and integrated user experience compared to standard web browsers.
  • Increased Engagement
    By opening links directly in native apps, users are more likely to engage with the content, enhancing retention and interaction compared to a web-based experience.
  • Time-Saving
    Users save time as they don't have to navigate through unnecessary steps to access in-app content, making digital interaction more efficient.
  • Better Performance
    Native apps generally offer better performance than web pages, with faster loading times and more responsive interfaces, which OpeninApp facilitates by opening links directly in these apps.
  • App Monetization
    For developers, OpeninApp can help in driving more usage within the app, potentially increasing monetization opportunities through ads or in-app purchases.

Possible disadvantages of OpeninApp

  • Privacy Concerns
    Opening links in native apps can raise privacy concerns, as more user data might be shared with app developers compared to standard browsing.
  • Compatibility Issues
    There could be compatibility issues with certain apps or devices, resulting in some links failing to open as intended.
  • Limited to Supported Apps
    OpeninApp is only beneficial for links that correspond to installed apps on the user's device, thereby limiting its utility for unsupported app links.
  • Dependency on Device Resources
    Opening links in native apps can be resource-intensive, potentially slowing down the device or consuming more battery life compared to web browsing.
  • User Control
    Some users may prefer the ability to choose whether to open a link in a browser or app, and OpeninApp could reduce this level of control by defaulting to apps.

Analysis of YOURLS

Overall verdict

  • YOURLS is a great choice for individuals or organizations looking for a customizable and secure URL shortening solution. It is particularly suitable for those who want to avoid relying on third-party services.

Why this product is good

  • YOURLS (Your URL Shortener) is a self-hosted URL shortening service that provides full control over your short URLs. It allows users to customize and manage their links, track their analytics, and ensure privacy and security since it's hosted on your own server. Its open-source nature ensures transparency and the ability to modify the functionality as needed.

Recommended for

  • Businesses that need branded and secure short URLs.
  • Developers looking for an open-source URL shortener they can customize.
  • Organizations prioritizing data privacy and control.
  • Bloggers or marketers who want to track detailed analytics of their links.

YOURLS videos

+ Add

How to make a URL Shorter with YOURLS

OpeninApp videos

+ Add

OpeninApp Dashboard Walkthrough

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to YOURLS and OpeninApp)

YOURLS

OpeninApp

Link Management
95 95%
Link Management
5% 5
URL Shortener
100 100%
URL Shortener
0% 0
Website Testing
0 0%
Website Testing
100% 100
Branded URLs
100 100%
Branded URLs
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare YOURLS and OpeninApp

YOURLS Reviews

11 Best URL Shorteners For 2025 (Comparison)
YOURLS is a free and lightweight URL shortener you can install on your site via PHP scripts and/or plugins. You can use it to create simple, custom-branded short links. You can even set things up in such a way that allows outside parties to use your link shortener.
Source: startupbonsai.com
11 Best Bitly Alternatives & Similar URL Shorteners
Yourls is a lightweight software to install regardless of the many features you have to enhance your campaign. It will be worth your efforts to try this platform in the first place.
Source: www.regendus.com
Top 8 Alternatives of Bit.Ly in 2023
YOURLS URL shortenerEmail Verification Tools, Features and Comparison of top five ServicesEmail Verification Tools can be game-changing for your business operation. But not knowing how to purchase them will be a blunder. Learn how to select one for your business.StartupTalkyAnsh MehreyConclusionFAQsIs there a free alternative to Bit.ly?Does Google have a URL shortener?How do...
Source: startuptalky.com
The 8 Best Alternatives to Google URL Shortener
Yourls, which is an acronym for "your own URL shortener," is exactly that—a service your run on your own server. Similar to Polr, Yourls is free and open-source. With Yourls, you can choose whether your links will be public or private. It includes bookmarklets, which let you turn a long URL into a short one from your web browser in just one click. By default, the tool...
Source: zapier.com

OpeninApp Reviews

  1. Rishav Agarwal
    · Founder at Picxele ·
    Redirection Links

    OpenInApp is easy to use and track all my URLS.

    🏁 Competitors: Bitly
    👍 Pros:    Tracking links|Amazing ui

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, YOURLS seems to be a lot more popular than OpeninApp. While we know about 21 links to YOURLS, we've tracked only 1 mention of OpeninApp. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

YOURLS mentions (21)

  • Raindrop.io: cross-platform, collaborative bookmark manager
    This is what I use and like: https://yourls.org. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Ask HN: Building a url shortner, similar to bitly, can I make it profitable?
    Similar to...? https://yoslash.com/ Personally I just use https://yourls.org/. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
  • self-hosted url shorter with device targeting
    YOURLS has a "detect-mobile-device" plugin. Is that what you were looking for? Source: about 2 years ago
  • Tool/solution to "masquerade" or encode/decode part of the url to avoid showing subpaths details (f.e: myDomain.tld/myFolder/MyFile should became myDomain.tld/casualStringGeneratedAndMappedByTheTool) ?
    You will need to implement the YOURLS URL Shortener (https://yourls.org) and then implement the following YOURLS Plug-in - https://github.com/peterberbec/yourls-keyword_charset_length (Keywords, Charset & Length). Source: over 2 years ago
  • How create Short Links from my main domain name?
    Personally I would use something like this, although it does require a database. https://yourls.org/. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

OpeninApp mentions (1)

  • Social media makes it impossible to get discovered now
    Instagram and Facebook behave like a private networks rather than internet sites. I mean Google does not find or index your Instagram posts or your Facebook videos are generally available for Facebook users. Another thing is when you share a google link on Instagram Bio, the app opens the link on its own browser. This means people are unsigned there and unable to like or save your videos. The same thing happens... Source: almost 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing YOURLS and OpeninApp, you can also consider the following products

Bitly - Get the most out of your social and online marketing efforts. Own, understand and activate your best audience through the power of the link with Bitly Enterprise.

App Opener Link Generator - App Opener is a free YouTube App Deep Link Generator. Helps you convert social media visitors into subscribers. The smartest app tool for Open in App.

Polr - An open source URL shortener. A great non-profit and free alternative to bit.ly, TinyURL, or goo.gl.

Opener - Opener is an app that allows you to open links from the web in apps instead! Copy a link and launch Opener to see the apps that it can be opened in, or use Opener's action extension right from other apps!

TinyURL - Are you sick of posting URLs in emails only to have it break when sent causing the recipient to...

Magnet Links - Open Magnet Links in Put.io

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